Gas-engine starter.



Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

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S. S. KRAYER. GAS ENGINE STARTER.

APPLIoATIoH FILED PEB. 1e, 1912.

1,055,332, Paten-ea 1111111111913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

STEPHEN S. KRAYER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GAS-ENGINE STARTER.

Speoicatiou of Letters Patent.

la tented Mar. 11, 1913.

Application filed February 19, 1912. Serial No. 678,517.

To all 'whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, S'rirnnu Knarnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State ot' Missouri, have invented a new andJ useful Gas-Engine Starter, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to gas engine starters and is designed to be used as asumjile .mental starting device in combination with any hydro-carbon engine of the internal emnbustion type, and is particularly applicablefor use in connection with engines (hisi", ncdv for automobiles or motor vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the purpose mentioned, whereby a measured quantity ot explosive liquid may be mixed with a measured quantity of air to produce a predetermined (1hantity ot carbureted air which may bc directly introduced into the several cylinders oi the engine under pressure, and exploded by any of the usual devices 'for such purpose, cli'cctively to start the operation ot' the engine. To this and other ends l have designed, combined, and arranged the several ceperating parts in the manner hereinafter shown, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the views, vl `igure l is an endl` elevation of my improved starting apparatus, with pipe connections arranged tor use with a four cylinder engine. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudiiial section of one unit comprising the liquid and an air chamber, constituting the measuring and gas mixing device for a single cylinder. Fig. fi is a transversel section on the line 3--2-5 of Fie. 2, showing a portieri of the liquid chamber, with the liquid inlet and outlet passages andthe air inlet and carbureted air outlet passages, and the rotary valve element. for controlling all ot' said passages. Fig. fl is a transverse sectional View, showing the air controlled device for operating the valves in the liquid chamber and in the air chamber. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing the air inlet to the air measuring chamber and the outlet passage therefrom and the rotary valve for controlling said passages. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve interposed in the passage leading from the compressed air tank to the valve cmitrollingr device illustrated in Fig. Ll-7 and Fig. 7 is a diagramnuitic view showing the pipe connections for operatively connecting lour measuring and mixing units with a't'our cylinder engine and with the liquid and compressi-.d air suppl".

For cach cylinder comprising the engine, a separate air and liquid measuring and mixing unit is provided and in Figs. l and 7 ol the drawings I hare shown a preferrcd arrangement of piping for connecting the series ot' units with a t'our cylinder engine and with cach other. Nach unit .is substantially the same in structure und .it is obvious that by a simple rearrangement of the pipe mmncctions that the apparatus may' be adapted lior usc with an engine of any number of cylinders. As the invention resides primarily in the liquid and air measuringr and mixing device and the means for operating the same, 'I will Irst describe its structure and then suggest a preferred method 'for connecting the several units together making them adaptable as a starting device foany engine comprising any number of cylinders. I hc air chamber and the air operated mechanism for controlling the valves inthe liquid and 'air chamber ot each unit are inclosed in a casing A, which is provided with removable heads 1 and One end of the casing A is tubular in form constituting a cylindered chamber 3 and has' mounted therein a revoluble chamber 4, ot such diameter that its outer periphery lits closely against the inner surface ot' the tubular portion 3 of the case A. The chamber 4.- is provided with a head-platc 5 which has threaded engagement with the inner wall of said chamber 4tso that by adjusting the said head-plate 5, the capacity of the chamber may be increased or diminished. A pipe 6, which constitutes the compressed air inlet pipe, is arranged in a threaded orifice in the wall of chamber 3 Iand communicates with the Vchaml'ier 4 through an opening 7 therein,

when said opening 7 registers with the opening of the pipe 6, which will be the case when the chamber 4 is in normal position. The second pipe 8, which constitutes the air outlet pipe from'thechamber 4 is arranged in a threaded orice through the Wall oi the chamber 3 in circumferential alinement with the pipe 6 and ninety, degreebs in advance of said pipe 6.A As the chamber 4 is rocked, or rotated, the port 7 will register with the pipe 8, thereby permitting the compressed air contained within the chamberto pass out through the said pipe 8.

The chamber l is mounted on the rock shaft t) arranged in bearings in the c ,fise A and in the case A spring l0, one end of which is attached to the case A at li and the other end thereotl to the shaft S) at 12, maintains the shaft t) in such a position that the pipe and the port 7 register. 'lhe end ot' the case )t opposite to the chamber l is :formed with a quadrantal chamber 13; a passage 14 extends from the chamber 13 to the periphery oit the case A and with the pipe 15 constitutes aV compressed air inlet to the chamber 13; a valve plat-e 16 is supported. by sleeve 17 fast on the shaft 9 and normally held in position to close the passage 14, by the action of the spring 10.

The case l is cylindrical in form and is provided with a removable head 18 and has mounted therein the tubular chamber 19, which is also provided with an adjustable head plate 20. Through the walls ot' the chamber 19 are openings 21 and 22, constituting. respectively, liquid inlet and out-let ports. The oritiees 21 and 22 are in circumt'erential alinemcnt and are arranged opposite to one another as clearly shown in Fig. 3. in normal position the port 21 registers with the end oft the liquid inlet pipe 23 and the port 22 registers with the liquid outlet pipe 24C. It clear, therefor-@that in the noriral adjustment of the chamber 19, liquid entering through the passage 21e 23 will freely flow through 'the chamber 19 and' from thence it will pass through the outlet passage 22-24- lhe chamber 1i) is also rigidly mounted on the sha'tt :'l and as the sha't't 9 is rocked the ports 2l and 22 will be brought into registration with pipes 25 and 8, respectively. The pipe 25 constitutes a passage from chamber 19 to the cylinder C of the engine, and the pipe 8 constitutes a passage troni the chamber 4, sothat when the port 7 is brought into registration with oneend of the pipe 8, the opposite end ot' the pipe will be inregistration with the port 22 and the air will pass from the chainber 4 and mix with the liquid contained iny the chamber 19 and be forced out through the pipe 25 as carbureted air to the cylinder ot' the engine.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 7, the operation of the device in connection with Va four cylinder engine will be apparent. Air pressure from a compressedair tank D, passes from the said tank vthrougg'h the pipe G and device. Each chamber 1f) is normally filled.A and contains a sutiieient quantity of liquid" to generate. a supply ot' gas sutiicieiit start the operation ot the respective cylinders, with which it is connected. The pipe 15 is also connected with the pipe G W ich communicates with the compressed air tank D, but in normal condition the passage oi air therethrough is prevented by the closure of the three way Valve 26 interposed in said pipe 15, so that normally there will be no pressure againstthe plate 16. In starting the engine with my present device the valve 2G is opened, causing the compressed air to pass through the lower portion of pipe 15 and enter the passage 14, thereby 'moving the plate 1G downwardly, which action causes the shaftt) to rock instantly through an arc of ninetyv degrees, causing the port 7 to be 'brought into instant registration with one end oi' the pipe 8 and at the same time closing the air inlet t3. In the chamber 19 the ports 21 and are simultaneously closed and the passages 8*-22 and 21-25 are opened, pero itting the flow of compressed air into an'dthrough the chamber t5), thence after mixing with the fuel liquid.

lthrough the passage 25 to the cylinders,

supplying the cylinders of the engine with gas under pressure, which may bevexploded to start the engine. After the initial operation ot the engine the valve 26' is again closed and the air' pressure upon the plate 16 is innnediately -relieved, permitting the shat't t) and its carried parts to be returned to normal position by the spring 10, thereby opening the air passage in the Ichamber 4,.

and the liquid inletrand outlet passages in the chamber 19. l am aware that there may `be several changes in details of construction and arrangements of the parts, Witiout departure from the spirit and scope o iny invention. I do not limit myself, thereore,.to exact details, but j vWhat I claim and' desiretol secure' by Letters Patent is c-ef 1. A starting device for ai hydro-carbon engine, comprising an air chamber, a liquid chamber, means for maintaining an ail' pressure in said airchamber, means for maintaining liquid in said liquid chamber andautomatie means for causing said -nir Acontained in said air chamber, to pass liquid sup shai'tund thereby y 4to Irality of.

through the li uid chamber, eflfeetively to generate a precetermined quantity ot" carbureted air, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described an air chamber, a source of compressed air supply, a passage from said air supply to said chamber, a second chamber for conta'nr ing liquid, a -liquid inlet passage to said second named chamber and a liquid outlet passage from said chamber; said air chairber to said liquid chamber, a gas outlet passage from said liquid chamber and-an air operated mechanism for closing said air inlet passage to said air chamber and said liquid inlet and outlet passages from said liquid chamber, and open said passage from said air chamber to said liquid chamber and said gas outlet passage, substantially as described.

3. Ina starting device the combination with an air su )ply and a hydro-carbon ly, o an airchamber communi eating witi said air supply, a liquid container 1n communlcation with said liquid supply, a assage from said air chamber to said liqui container, a passage from said liquid container to an engine cylinder, and a valve operated by fluid pressure to shut ofi said liquid supply and said air supply and to openthe passages from said air chamber to said liquid container, and from said liquid container to said engine cylinder.

,4. A device of the character described, comprising a easing, a revoluble chamber mounted in said easing, a shaft. on which said chamber is mounted, a spring actuating said shaft, a late carried by said shaft, an air inlet to said chamber, an air outlet from said chamber, a liquid container, an air passage from said air chamber to said liquid container, means for exerting air pressure against said plate effectively to rock said close the air inlet to said air chamber and open the passage from said air chamber to said liquid container, substantially as specified,

5. A device of the character described, comprising a casing, a revoluble chamber mounted in said casing, a shaft 'journaled in said easing on Which said chamber is mounted, a second casing, a chamber revolubly mounted inlsaid second casing' and being' attached to' said shaft, a spring` actuatingr said shaft in one direction, a plurality of' passages cornn'iunicatingr with said chambers, and means for actuating said shafi, elfectively to open and close said passages, substantially as described.

6. A starting' device comprising; a pluair chambers and a plurality ol hydro-carbon liquid containers, inter-communicating passages between said liquid containers through which liquid from a common source flows, air inlet passages to e/ach of said air chambers, passages cona passage from chambers and liquid containers in pairs, and means whereby the air contained in the air chamber of each pair may be passed through the liquid contained in the liquid containers of each pair and thence to the cylinders of an engine, substantially as specified.

7. A starting?r device comprising an air pressure tank, an air chamber, a passage leading from said pressure tank to said air chamber, a container arranged to hold a l'iydro-c'irbon liquid, a passage from said air chamber to said liquid container, and means for causing said chamber to revolve cliectively to close the air supply and open the passage leading), from said chamber to said liquid container, coniprising a shaft whereon said chamber is mounted, a vane carried by said shaft, a by-pass passage from said pressure tank, a valve in said {passage operable eli'ectively to permit air 'from said pressure tank to impingyc against said vane, substantially as described.

8. A starting device comprising an air chamber and liquid container, an intercom municating passage between said air ehamber and said liquid container, an air inlet. to said chamber, liquid inlet and outlet passages for said liquid container and means cperated by the source ot air supply, citeetive to cause the a'ir to pass from said air chamber through the liquid'contained in the said liquid eontainer,a1ul simultaneously.I therewith to cut otl' the air and liquid supply, substantially as specified.

t). In a device,` of the character described, the combination with an air chamber, a liquid container and an interronmmnicating passage therebetween, ot" an air passage to said air chamber, a liquid passage to said liquid container, and a lluid operated valve lor controlling' said two last named passages, substantially as specified.

10. The combination,with an engine cylinder, a hydro-carbo]i liquid container, and a passage between said cylinder and container, of an air chamber, a passage between said air chamber and said liquid container, and a lluid operated valve for controlling said passages, substantially as specilied.

ll.' A starting device comprising' an air chamber, a liquid container, a passage, between said container and chamber, an air inletI passage to said chamber, a liquid inlet passage to said container, and a valve operable etl'cctively to open the passage between said chamber and container and simultaneously therewith to cut oflI the air and liquid supply, substantially as specified.

l2. A starting device comprising,r an ai;` pressure tank, an air chamber, a-passage leading from said pressure tank to said air chamber, a liquid container, a supply passage leading to saidliquid container, a pasneeting said air sage from said air chamber to said liquid In Witness whereof, I have signed this container, and means 'for moving said liquid specification 1n the presence of two subscribeontfuner and said :111' chamber eii'ectlvely lng witnesses.

to close the air supply and the liquid supply STEPHEN S IKR-AYER. ,i5 and Dpen the passage leading from said ail' Witnesses:

chamber to Suid liquid container, substanf NELSON THOMAS,

tally as specified. L. C. KINGSLAND. 

